The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-12-03
bible Society Meeting

GRAND RIDGE, Nov. 90, 1SS7.-The an
nual meeting of the Farm Ridge Bible
Society was held In the Presbyterian
church, at Grand Ridge. sunday Nov. 81
1887, In connection with the morning ser
vices.
An able and instructive sermon wal
delivered by Rev. A. r. Hale, on "The
Inspiration and Authority Of the Bible,
In which the harmony OF Its many writer's
as clearly set forth. He said the Bible
was llkened 70 beautiful dwelling which
was erected under the direction OF the
worlds first architect, and upon which none
save the most skilled mechanic were Fer.
mitted to labor; that the eye OF architect
was upon and directed the whole work
from the moving of the first shovel Of earth
until the final touch OF artists brush. After
the sermon the usual business OF the
Society was transacted, II. NJ. Antram In
the chair. The treasurer's report stated
the cash income during the year, which
amounted TO Sal 80,
The following officers were elected: X.
NJ. Antram, President; VIM. A. Black
Vice President; Miss Lama Porter, Score.
tary; May Jones. Treasurer. The Local
Agents elected In Districts In which they
reside, were as follows:
Miss Mary Mustard, Bertha Woodward,
Jennie Antram, Mr.. George Scheere, John
Miller, John L. Boyd, Eli Essick and
Walter Black. A few interesting remarks
we're made by Rev G. Foster, the county
agent, who said. "There we're serious OBJ.
jections raised by the people In America
on account of the alarming increase of the
Chinese population, especially on the Pa
cific Coast, where they are setting up and
worshiping idols, and were unwilling to
become citizens What Is TO be done =
Must we expel and Danish them from our
boosted free land? Shall We open the
cannOns of our seaports and thunder mis-
sils of terror and destruction among them
Break In peaces their Idols and drive them
from our land or, shall we open our por
tails and unfold to them our moral laws
which alone make good citizens? They
are eager to learn" He spoke of boy
In Japan, named Joseph Neesema. One
day as he was studying geography In
school, he read, "In the beginning God
created the heavens and the aarth.' The
geography came IRON China, but was pub.
iished In Boston. He went home and told
his father, and said, "Our house Is full of
gods, but they don't help us. l am going
to China TO see this great God who could
do something so great" But his father
deferred him, telling him that the law
of the land required that If anyone should
leave the country and return, he would be
killed. The boy waited three years, when
he took his life In his own hand and left
for China. In the streets of Shanghai he
looked for the lgreat God but was disap-
pointed. He obtained passage to Boston,
where he arrived and Immediately began
to search for this great God. He came
back to the ship crying The rough old
captain asked the cause of his distress.
The boy then told his story. The captain,
though worldly man, told him he knew
of a man who would tell him all he wished
TO know, and took him to the residence of
Mr.. Hardy, the owner of the ship, who ed
ucated him at Andover. His father sent
for him to come home. The laws Of japan
had been changed and he would not be
harmed because of his English education.
The Government wanted him at princely
salary and he is now President of large
and flourishing university, in Japan.
After this address the meeting adjourned.
K. NJ w,